Unreleased David Bowie Songs To Be Broadcast On U.k. Television
By WENN in Music / Festivals on 21 April 2016

Unreleased and unheard songs by the late David Bowie are to feature in a new U.K. television documentary.

During his lifetime the rock legend attempted to keep unfinished or discarded songs secret so fans would only hear the final finished version of each track.

However, following the Starman musician's death from cancer in January (16) at the age of 69, filmmakers at the BBC were given access to an extensive vault of unreleased Bowie material which will feature in the new documentary.

Fans of the singer will now get the chance to hear alternate versions of classic songs like his first hit, Space Oddity, unreleased projects and experimental recordings.

"I am BBC bound not to reveal too much," the documentary's host Danny Baker wrote on Twitter. "But I was at a place today where are stored Bowie records & artefacts that nobody knows even exist.

"Just a little Bowie teaser on what I saw/heard today. Space Oddity. Acetate version with different lyrics. Doesn't exist? Oh it does..."

Details of the show are yet to be released, but Baker's agent says Bowie's music will not be its sole focus.

“The show isn’t just about David Bowie – other musicians will also feature," he told Britain's Loaded magazine.

It is unknown which other unreleased songs will feature in the documentary, although the host did reveal he had also listened to a profanity laden version of Bowie's novelty song The Laughing Gnome.

Documentary makers will have a huge selection of Bowie material to select from, as over his 50 year music career the rocker recorded a number of songs which are yet to be heard by the public. He even recorded a whole album, 2001's Toy, which went officially unreleased but was leaked in 2011.

The only initially unreleased Bowie music which surfaced during his lifetime were tracks included in the 2015 box-set release Five Years, which covered Bowie’s music from 1969-73.

Listen to unreleased David Bowie song set to feature in new BBC documentary

BBC4 given access to vault of previously secret Bowie material for ‘The People’s History Of Pop’.
John Earls, 23rd May 2016

A treasure trove of unreleased David Bowie music is set to be aired in a new BBC4 documentary.

Bowie’s demo of his 1969 No 1 single ‘Space Oddity’ with alternative lyrics is among the songs which is likely to officially be heard for the first time in The People’s History Of Pop.

The show, which will be screened in July, also had presenter Danny Baker given access to a version of Bowie’s 1967 novelty comedy single ‘The Laughing Gnome’ featuring swearing in its sped-up vocals.

Baker was also played Bowie’s demo of Frank Sinatra’s classic song ‘My Way’. Before Sinatra released the song in 1969, songwriters including Bowie were invited to write English lyrics for the original song ‘Comme D’Habitude’ (which translates as ‘As Usual’) by French songwriter Claude Francois.

Sinatra eventually chose lyrics by Paul Anka, a singer who had hits in the 1950s. Although Bowie’s lyrics were rejected, he admitted that his 1971 hit ‘Life On Mars?’ was influenced by ‘My Way’.

Baker was given access to the unreleased vault of material by Bowie biographer and collector Kevin Cann. Much of it has been bootlegged and can be heard on YouTube, but ‘The People’s History Of Pop’ will be its first official airing.

A BBC spokeswoman told NME: "The programme is still being made, but we can confirm that there will be some rare and special Bowie material in it."

The People’s History Of Pop is a four-part BBC4 series covering music fans' recollections of 1956-1996. The first episode, which aired in April, covered the formation of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

As well as Bowie, the second episode in July will feature Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Marc Bolan and Northern Soul. It covers the mid 1960s to early 1970s. A statement said: "The show meets music fans, including some who fell in love with the psychedelic sounds of Sgt Pepper, hippies who discovered peace and love at the Isle of Wight Festival, and Black Sabbath fans who turned to the new sounds of heavy metal.

"The producers have previously appealed to music fans around the UK to upload details about their most precious music memorabilia to the series website at www.bbc.co.uk/mygeneration. Currently over 3,400 items - including photos, videos and audio of their musical treasures - have been uploaded. Episodes three and four will focus on the two decades from mid 70s to mid 90s, so the programme-makers would love to hear from people around the country who have treasured mementos from that time. Visit the website to find out more."

A large amount of unreleased David Bowie material is known to exist, including an album entitled ‘Toy’ which he recorded in 2001.

An album of unreleased material was included in Bowie’s box-set Five Years. Released in 2015, it covered his music from 1969-1973. A second volume of his box-sets is rumoured to be released this autumn.

Following Bowie’s death in January, it was revealed that the sleeve of the vinyl edition of his final album ‘Blackstar’ changes from black to a multi-coloured galaxy image if it’s left in the sun.

Respected writer, journalist and broadcaster Danny Baker will present the second episode of BBC Four’s People’s History Of Pop (Friday 22 July) – independently produced by 7Wonder. This programme is all about the years 1966-1975, when fans were discovering new British music at an exhilarating pace. This is the decade in which Bolan and Bowie changed people’s lives forever, bookish boys found expression through the likes of Pink Floyd, Northern Soulers danced all night at the Wigan Casino, and Bob Marley brought reggae and dreads to the British mainstream.

Danny Baker says: “To be a music fan between ‘66 and ‘76 was to be bathed in an almost daily cascade of new possibilities. If the previous 10 years were the roots, this span were the fruits. I can never understand fans who followed one tribe, one musical style. To me that misses the point of a period when entirely new genres were being forged out of the everywhere. From the rise of the singer-songwriter to the birth of heavy metal, from Bowie to Big Youth, a reborn Motown embracing the new German sounds, when what is now called Old School Soul was the brand new funk and on and on, the pop creation flourished. Everything was being tried and expanded, and almost all of it worked. What a period. Staggering to think there was only seven short years between Woodstock and the Sex Pistols.”

The show meets those who fell in love with the psychedelic sounds of Sgt Pepper, hippies who discovered peace and love at the Isle of Wight Festival, and Black Sabbath fans who turned to the new sounds of heavy metal. Contributors include a man who has a 'festival room' filled with memorabilia from the 'first proper UK festival', the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. A couple share the story of their first date in 1973 - Bowie's Ziggy Stardust concert at Earl's Court, which has led to 40 years of marriage. Another tells of reading about a new type of music in the NME called 'meaty music' and went along to see a new band called Earth perform in Northampton. When he got there, the name on the drum kit was Black Sabbath…

Viewers will also be treated to a rare and intimate view of David Bowie by a fan who has a mask of his face. The programme has uncovered this rare piece of memorabilia from one of the star’s many legendary personas - a chromium mask from a cast made of his face which appeared in the BBC's 1975 rock documentary Cracked Actor, which followed the progress of Bowie's Diamond Dogs tour through California.

The show reunites a former teacher and pupil of Peckham Manor School, more than 40 years after they witnessed an unknown Bob Marley perform in their sports hall. They show us priceless photographs of his set with Johnny Nash, and relive the moment they had a kick-about in the playground after. Danny also meets a Marc Bolan fan who shares his pop treasures and stories, including the time he went to Bolan's house and got given a pair of his trainers by Marc's dad - he still has the trainers today.

Today, BBC TWO announces a new landmark film, David Bowie: The Last Five Years to air in January 2017, produced and directed by Francis Whately as a follow-up to his acclaimed David Bowie: Five Years which was broadcast on BBC TWO in 2013. As with the first film, this new piece will feature a wealth of rare and unseen archive footage and early audio interviews which have never been released before. This includes the original vocal which Bowie recorded for Lazarus, his last release before his death, which has never been heard before.

Additionally, BBC Four will broadcast Bowie at the BBC, a compilation of rarely seen archive exploring Bowie’s incredible career as captured by the BBC from his very first appearance in 1964 to through to his death in 2016. BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a documentary, Life On Mars, presented by Martin Kemp examining the legacy of the song which is widely regarded as Bowie’s masterpiece, featuring unreleased music archive. BBC Radio 6 Music will be asking listeners to vote for their favourite Bowie album and holding a Listening Party for the No 1 choice, and Marc Riley will present a show in tribute to the singer. The programmes will air in January 2017, marking what would have been David Bowie’s 70th birthday and one year on from the legendary musician’s death.

David Bowie: The Last Five Years will focus on the three major projects of Bowie's last five years - the best-selling albums, The Next Day and Blackstar, alongside the musical Lazarus which, following rave reviews and a sold out run ‘off Broadway’, is arriving in London this Autumn. With unprecedented access to Bowie’s closest friends and collaborators this will be an unforgettable tribute to one of the greatest musical icons of modern times. And it will also be an opportunity to experience some of Bowie’s iconic songs from his incredible back catalogue which will illustrate the continuity of his later work with the rest of his career.

Francis Whately said: “I always hoped that I would make another film about Bowie as we were only able to scratch the surface in the first film, but I just didn’t expect it to be this soon. However, looking at Bowie’s extraordinary creativity during the last five years of his life has allowed me to re-examine his life’s work and move beyond the simplistic view that his career was simply predicated on change - Bowie the chameleon… ‘ch ch ch changes’ etc. Instead, I would like to show how the changes were often superficial, but the core themes in his work were entirely consistent – Alienation, Mortality and Fame.”

Adam Barker, Channel Executive for BBC TWO and BBC Four, said: “BBC TWO is thrilled to have commissioned this unique documentary chronicling the most recent achievements of one of the most significant figures in the history of music.”

The original band members of The Next Day album will be reunited alongside Bowie's long-time producer Tony Visconti to recreate the production process for key tracks on the album. There will be interviews with the video directors and the stars of Bowie's last videos, including the Stars (Are Out Tonight), exploring how the album consolidates Bowie's back catalogue with thematic and musical references to his past, whilst at the same time being a triumphant return to form after a ten year hiatus.

For the album, Blackstar, the film visits the famous 55 bar in New York where Bowie first encountered the jazz quartet who would become the musicians for this, one of his most innovative and original albums. Whately explores how the record was to become Bowie's stunning epitaph. And the film features exclusive access to the writer, director and cast of Lazarus and will tell the story of the project from its inception through to the opening night, showing Bowie’s unwavering commitment to the project right up to the very end of his life. Lazarus illustrates the connections between the play and David's own career and explores the extent to which it is possible to draw a comparison between the main character, Thomas Jerome Newton, first introduced in the 'Man Who Fell to Earth' film, and Bowie himself. The play includes a reworking of some of Bowie’s greatest hits including Heroes, Life on Mars and Changes. Whately is given access to film the rehearsals in London plus a complete performance.

Bowie at the BBC on BBC Four is a compilation of clips from the BBC archive giving an overview of Bowie’s extraordinary career from 1964 to 2016. It will feature legendary and rarely seen performances, interviews and insights into his many personas. From a 17-year-old David Jones interviewed by Cliff Michelmore in 1964, onto 1973 when as David Bowie he gave his seminal Top of the Pop’s performance of Starman, and to 2000 when he performed at Glastonbury. The programme includes other classic Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test performances of Bowie singing Queen Bitch, Oh you Pretty Things and The Jean Genie, and looks at Bowie the actor with interviews about his roles in The Elephant Man, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and Absolute Beginners. Bowie at the BBC will give an insight into the one of the most significant performers of the 70s and beyond with interviews and performances showing just how innovative, funny, surprising and influential Bowie and his many personae were to generations.

For BBC Radio 2, in Life On Mars (Monday 9 January, 10pm), Martin Kemp explores this 1971 song of Bowie’s which is widely regarded as his masterpiece. With access to exclusive unreleased music archive, the documentary examines how Life On Mars came into being and the significance of the lyrics. Kemp explores whether it could be seen as the musician’s legacy song – the one for which he will be most remembered. The programme will feature never before broadcast archive recordings, Bowie’s original piano and voice demo and further archive, and hears from those who worked closely with Bowie to create this memorable recording. These include original producer Ken Scott, former EMI A&R Tris Penna, Rick Wakeman, Mick Rock (who shot the video), and archive interviews with Bowie. Produced by Sue Clark Productions.

Martin Kemp said: “In celebration of the genius that is David Bowie, I'm excited and honoured to present this programme 'Life on Mars?' in January for Radio 2 to mark what would have been his 70th birthday. For me Bowie was a great inspiration and influence on my own music career.”

On BBC Radio 6 Music, on what would have been his 70th birthday Sunday 8 January, there will be a Now Playing special with presenter Tom Robinson. 6 Music will also be asking listeners to vote for their favourite ever Bowie album, from a Top 10 shortlist compiled by the station’s presenters. On Monday 9 January, the number one album will be played in full at 10pm in a 6 Music Listening Party presented by Gideon Coe. On Tuesday 10 January (the first anniversary of Bowie’s death) Marc Riley will present a tribute show to him. 6 Music will also broadcast again Iggy Pop’s Bowie special in which Iggy devoted a whole show to his friend and collaborator, playing his favourite Bowie tracks and chatting about the times their paths crossed over the years.

Paul Rodgers, Head of Programmes for BBC Radio 6 Music, said: “I remember the sadness people felt in January 2016 when we learned of David Bowie’s death. It feels appropriate that the 6 Music community should commemorate and celebrate his life and legacy one year on.”

David Bowie: The Last Five Years is commissioned by Jan Younghusband for BBC TWO. Produced and directed by Francis Whately for BBC Studios. BBC Executive Producer is Phil Dolling. It is distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

The BBC broadcasts a huge range of music documentaries and specials across its channels, including: on BBC ONE last year’s Bafta-nominated ‘Adele at the BBC’ and this November ‘Bublé at the BBC’; the BBC Music: My Generation season telling the story of popular music has been running across the year with Tom Jones: The Decade That Made Me, Keith Richards: The Origin Of The Species, Boy George: Save Me From Suburbia and Jazzie B’s 1980s: From Dole to Soul on BBC TWO; the People’s History of Pop series, Billy Fury: The Sound Of Fury, The Story of Skinhead with Don Letts and Gary Numan: Android In La La Land on BBC FOUR. In September, BBC FOUR broadcast Keith Richards’ Lost Weekend featuring an in-depth interview with the legendary musician plus three nights of programming all hand-picked by him. Other stand-alone documentaries and series include Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue, Music Moguls, Hip Hop World News, Part-Time Band, Sisters of Country, The Most Dangerous Band in the World: The Story of Guns N’ Roses, and The Girl From Ipanema: Brazil, Bossa Nova and The Beach.

There was nothing predictable about David Bowie - everything was designed to intrigue, to challenge, to defy all expectations. But perhaps no period in David Bowie’s extraordinary career raised more fascination, more surprise, and more questions, than the last five years.

This film - to be broadcast on the night before what would have been Bowie’s 70th birthday - is an intimate portrait of one of the defining artists of our time, told by the people who knew him best: his friends and artistic collaborators. It follows the widely acclaimed film David Bowie: Five Years, first broadcast on BBC Two in 2013.

It takes a detailed look at Bowie’s last albums The Next Day and Blackstar, and his play Lazarus. Through the prism of this last work the film shows how, in his final five years, Bowie not only began producing music again but returned to the core and defining themes of his career.

These were artistic rebirth, a shedding of skins, a quest for a different palette to express the same big ideas - dissonance, alienation, otherness - the human condition. The film explores how Bowie was a far more consistent artist than many interpretations of his career would have us believe, by tracing the core themes from his final works through his incredible back catalogue.

Viewers will see Major Tom reflected in Blackstar; Diamond Dogs in the play Lazarus; and Fame in the song The Stars (Are Out Tonight). Bowie’s urge to communicate feelings of spirituality, alienation and fame underpin his greatest works, from the 1960s to 2016. This is what lies at the heart of his success and appeal, music that deals with what it means to be human in a way that goes far beyond the normal palette of a rock star. This film is not a comprehensive overview of his entire career, but an in-depth exploration of its pivotal moments and a look at how the themes, the narrative, the approach are consistent - it is simply the palette that changes.

It features every key member of the Next Day band, the Blackstar band and those who worked with Bowie on the stage play Lazarus, plus old friends and colleagues including Tony Visconti, Gail Ann Dorsey, Toni Basil, Michael C Hall, Donny McCaslin, and old school friend Geoff MacCormac. And, as in David Bowie: Five Years, there is a wealth of unseen and rare archive.

Produced and Directed by Francis Whately, Executive Producer Phil Dolling

Bowie At The BBC

Bowie At The BBC is a patchwork portrait of Bowie in performance and interview, as he evolved over five decades in the spotlight. A variety of BBC programmes and presenters kept track of this most ever-changing of artists.

Through a compilation of clips from the BBC archive, the programme gives an overview of Bowie’s extraordinary career from 1964 to 2016 featuring legendary and rarely-seen performances, interviews and insights into his many personas.

The earliest footage is from 1964 with the 17 year-old David Jones who, driven by a desire to escape suburbia, and never be considered 'normal' - was interviewed by Cliff Michelmore about being the founder of the Prevention Of Cruelty To Long Haired Men Society.

Within five years he was David Bowie, the artist who created a world and a persona which let his influences and imagination run wild. The programme includes classic Top Of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test performances of Bowie singing Queen Bitch, Oh You Pretty Things and The Jean Genie, plus his seminal 1973 Top Of The Pops performance of Starman.

There is footage from Later with Jools, Top Of The Pops 2, Newsnight and Parkinson, and from his incredible set at Glastonbury in 2000. There’s also a look at Bowie the actor with interviews about his roles in The Elephant Man and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.

Bowie at the BBC gives an insight into the one of the most significant performers of the 70s and beyond, with interviews and performances showing just how innovative, funny, surprising and influential Bowie and his many personas were to generations.